Want to watch the Lucha Libre in Mexico City? We've got everything you need to know before you go, with tips on tickets, tours, and how to do it independently.
One half of Along Dusty Roads has a confession to make.
It's something that none of his friends know and his mother thought he'd given up when he was 14. Until the night when all was finally revealed to Emily, he'd only indulge in secret when she was away.
There are interests, some of questionable legality, which he would more readily share in polite company or around new people.
Andrew is a huge wrestling fan.
Present tense.
As a young kid on a farm in Scotland, it was hard to resist the muscles, fake tan, and charisma of people like the Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage and Bret Hart. It was the best sort of show on TV - a total spectacle - and the glimpses of Americana on steroids (often quite literally) were captivating.
The late 90s 'Monday Night Wars' between WWF and WCW really hooked him in as a teen though and, for a brief moment, wrestling powerbombed its way into the mainstream. Personalities like The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin were pretty well-known in pop culture, and, though by no means cool, it was appointment viewing for certain schoolmates in the pre-streaming and pre-TikTok age of entertainment.
But then life became more interesting, and the pantomime soap opera of men in spandex seemed like a foolish, childish endeavour; something to leave firmly in the past.
And then the pandemic hit.
The period where a retreat into nostalgic, childhood pastimes was an acceptable comfort blanket to shut out those strange times. For some people it might have been gaming, bread making, Star Wars, upcycling furniture, or bookclubs over Zoom.
But for Andrew, wrestling was the escapism of choice.
If you don't know your babyfaces from your heels, kayfabe from Kenny Omega, Rey Mysterio from 'Ravishing' Rick Rude, a hurricanrana from Hulk Hogan, Juventud Guerrera sounds like a football team, and you think Dwayne Johnson is a movie star rather than the People's Champion, then the chances are that a night at the wrestling in Mexico City will simply be more an evening of kitsch fun and ironic entertainment.
For marks like Andrew, it’s all that and something a little bit more.
Whichever applies, in this explainer guide, we've shared everything you need to know before going to watch the lucha libre in Mexico City.
A regular weekly event for some locals young and old, lucha libre is deeply engrained in the country's traditions and pastimes, and has deservedly grown in popularity as a fun experience for travellers too.
Whether you're doing it independently like us or joining with a local-led lucha tour, and one essential tip on buying tickets that we really wish we'd been aware of before we arrived at the Arena Coliseo.
This is our guide to going to the lucha libre in Mexico City.
Ánimo!
The Essentials | Lucha Libre IN Mexico City
· Lucha Libre is traditional Mexican pro-wrestling
· Choose from two venues in the city - Arena México and the Coliseo
· There are four evening shows per week
· A ticket costs M$96-M$720 depending on your seat
· For the best seats, buy offical tickets in advance here on Ticketmaster
· You can also join Lucha Libre tours for a full experience
· Bring cash, but leave your camera and valuables at home
· This is one of the best things to do in Mexico City
Where To Watch Wrestling in Mexico City
The Arena México, where we went, was built specifically to host wrestling and is known as ‘La Catedral de la Lucha Libre’.
The 16,000-seater arena hosts wrestling three evenings a week.
The Arena Coliseo is smaller and older but has a cool circular set-up; it currently only has wrestling on Saturday nights though.
A taxi driver we asked said it wouldn't make too much of a difference which we went with, but that Arena México is where he'd go between the two. Given that it has more frequent shows, it's also going to be the most likely option for many of you.
However, the reality is that your pick is more likely to be based on what's easiest to reach from your accommodation in this huge city, and which venue's dates works best with your Mexico City itinerary.
If in doubt, go for Arena México and note their Friday night show is the biggest one of the week.
Conesjo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) is the main company in the city - the equivalent of a WWE or AEW - and they run shows at both arenas. Founded in 1933, it’s actually the oldest professional wrestling promotion still in existence, and the number two in Mexico after the AAA (yep, wresting companies love a three-letter initialism).
The four-letter exception of CMLL has the following regular Mexico City schedule:
Arena México | Tuesdays 7.30pm, Fridays 8.30pm, Sundays 5pm | Google Maps
Arena Coliseo | Saturday 7:30 p.m | Google Maps
You can view the upcoming Mexico City wrestling dates and schedule here
Most importantly, whether you choose to see the wrestling at Arena México or Arena Coliseo, double check your tickets and make 100% certain you turn up at the right venue!
Buy Your Lucha Libre Tickets In Advance
If you want some of the best seats in the house, you need to buy your tickets in advance on Ticketmaster.
That's the one thing we wish we'd known before turning up to the box office at the arena.
Showing up to buy our tickets about 90 minutes before showtime, the first surprise was to see quite so many touts. Once we got to the front of the queue, we realised this was because there were zero seats left at ringside (closest to the action), which is where we'd hoped to sit. The touts, of course, had tickets available, but we were incredibly reluctant to even entertain this as an option in case they were selling fake tickets (some will definitely be legit but, as there are now lots of tourists coming, it would be an easy night's work if you wanted to take advantage of some...)
The annoying thing is that we had actually looked on the CMLL Ticketmaster the day before to check prices and availability, and seeing that there were plenty of good seats left, wrongly assumed it would stay that way. Whether the tours or touts hoover up the tickets, there's an arrangement in place with the venue, or there'd been an unusual surge in last-minute interest, we have no idea.
Disappointed with what the ticket kiosk lady had available, we jumped back onto Ticketmaster to see if we could still buy tickets online - but we learned that online sales close a few hours before every show.
Thankfully, the seats we bought on the door for the Viernes Espectacular Arena México weren't too bad. Costing M$400 for two in the upper tier (section V1 or N8), it was high up and far from the ring, but the view was still good and being surrounded by local families and friends who were really into it added to the atmosphere.
The main takeaway though is that if you want to have some of the best seats, or avoid potential disappointment when you turn up, you should definitely buy your tickets in advance online; it's also worth noting that all the Mexico City Lucha Libre tours include your ticket, so you don't have to stress about buying one in advance or on the night.
For the most popular nights, Mexico City wrestling tickets cost in the range of M$200 - M$720 per person ($15 - $40USD), depending on your seats, with ringside and next to the entrance ramp being the most expensive. Prices can reduce to around M$80 for the cheapest seats at certain shows though, which keeps it as an evening’s entertainment that’s open to all backgrounds and incomes.
There is also a VIP zone / boxes available for much more money (M$1,080+), but we don't think it would be as fun in there.
Check dates, prices, and availability on the official CMLL Ticketmaster page
You can usually see the schedule and buy them up to three or four weeks in advance.
If buying tickets on the door at la taquilla, you will find the two or three booths by the entrance on Dr. Lavista street (here on Google Maps). The conversation will be in Spanish and the touts will show some interest in you too.
Leave Your Camera & BAG Behind
The reason why there are far fewer photos than normal in this post is that they're really strict about the 'no cameras' rule at these wrestling shows. Knowing this, we simply left ours back at the Airbnb apartment in Roma Norte, and we would recommend not even trying to get around it.
The security checks before entering Arena México were surprisingly strict, with bags checked and everyone patted down before being permitted inside. You’re not allowed to bring in food or drink either, and it’s a good idea not to bring a daypack or rucksack.
You are able to take some videos / photos with your phone though.
You may read that the neighbourhoods around both arenas are very 'rough' or 'sketchy', but they're not far from your pretty average set-up in a big Mexican city. There are a few dancehalls and loud bars and, if you've only been visiting tourist spots or more gentrified neighbourhoods like neighbouring Roma Norte, then the contrast will perhaps be starker.
Nevertheless, common sense is always important and it’s best not to linger in Doctores after the show: it will be dark and quite late in the evening when you depart, and with lots of people milling around, so it makes sense to pay attention to your surroundings and keep an eye on your belongings.
We walked back home together as our Airbnb was a straightforward and well-lit 10-minutes away, but for many of you it will be easier, quicker, and more sensible to order an Uber. As it's quite a crowded rush at the end, our advice is to hang around inside or grab a quick drink nearby and order the Uber to pick you up there.
Alternatively, for peace of mind, some of you may prefer to join a lucha libre tour with a local guide as you’ll be with a group as you arrive/leave.
Go With Other People OR Join A lucha libre Tour
It is 100% possible to go buy your tickets, arrive, and go to the lucha libre in Mexico City without any tour guide. That's what we did, and because we're always together and Andrew was so ridiculously excited for it, didn't see any need to join a group or tour.
However, we don't think any traveller should turn up on their own.
It's not from a safety perspective, but more for an enjoyment one. If you speak Spanish and don't mind being alone, then by all means go for it. However, this sort of show will be much more fun with other travellers, especially once you all (inevitably) get into the drama and action a little more.
For solo travellers, it's therefore a good idea to consider joining one of the more social Lucha Libre tours in Mexico City.
In addition to the guarantee of a good seat and a local guide to take care of things, many include tacos or a few drinks together before the show. They’ll also give you more understanding on the cultural context and importance of lucha libre in Mexico, and most include a free mask! If you are concerned about logistics or safety before/after the wrestling, it will also remove that stress:
We've shared a few highly-rated Mexico City wrestling tours below, all of which include your ticket in the price:
· Lucha Libre Experience | Small-group tour limited to 15 people, it will also introduce you to the pulque drink in a local cantina - find out more here
· Lucha & Tacos & Beer & Mezcal | Focussed on giving you a great night as well as the wrestling show, the reviews are really excellent for this popular, social option - find out more here
· A Wrestler Tour | This one is led by a former luchador who can share a unique perspective on the world of lucha libre - find out more here
· Lucha Libre Show | Similar to the above, you start with a pulque or a beer before heading to the arena together to watch the action - find out more here
Some hostels will also get a group together for certain shows.
By the way, going to the lucha libre in Mexico City is a very family-friendly activity, and something that most kids will really love. The reason the above tours are 18+ is because they include the booze tastings and are more about a social traveller atmosphere. It's also worth knowing that the Sunday show at Arena México starts earlier and is more family-oriented.
Appreciate The Traditions & Skill of Lucha Libre
That Jack Black movie has a lot to answer for.
Lucha Libre - directly translated as ‘free-style fighting’ - has a strong heritage in Mexico and was arguably the country’s most popular ‘sport’ in the golden age of the 1950s and 60s.
Its style and delivery of the form is distinctive from what you’ll see in North America: it’s very acrobatic and high-flying, and first-timers are sure to gasp at some of the athleticism and skill on display.
The costume and masks of luchadores (fighters) are a well-established part of Mexican pop culture, but they aren’t worn by every single wrestler. As many luchas keep their real identities secret for decades, mask removal is however the greatest transgression one can pull during a match. Once they lose it (usually in a huge mask vs. mask match) they can never wear it again in the ring, and there’s even a commission enforcing this tradition.
Mil Máscaras and El Santo are the most famous of yesteryear - with the latter being a film/TV star who never revealed his face and was buried in his silver mask - whilst the WWE’s Rey Mysterio is the most known of the last two decades. However, there are a bunch of other impressive luchadores who are big on the North American scene, like Dragon Lee, Rey Fenix, and El Hijo del Vikingo, and Penta.
Turn Up An Hour Early For Merch & Mezcal
Dr. Lavista, the street outside the entrances to the Arena México, was jam-packed with fans and travellers, as were there nearest bars. There were long queues outside the shops selling replica belts, high quality masks, and figures, stalls selling t-shirts, posters, and playing wrestling on piled-up TV screens, and leather-jacketed touts trying to drum up sales. There were even a few jacked-up luchadores posing for photos with fans.
It was a nice atmosphere, and this is the spot to buy yourself a proper lucha mask or souvenir.
If you're buying tickets on the door, you should show up at least an hour before showtime to guarantee a ticket, but we'd recommend showing up an hour before if you've already got yours so you can have a drink and watch life being lived.
If you can find a table, grab a drink at La Fama opposite the entrance (maps) or La Tercera Caída on the corner (maps). There are also a few food places nearby for a quick taco beforehand.
Note that nobody is allowed inside the arena until they announce that the doors are open. Once you're inside, there are attendants in dark blue overalls who will help you find your seats - it's expected that you'll tip them a few pesos. There are also drink and popcorn sellers running up and down the stairs, and they'll sell to you in your seat.
Travel Tip // It's best to bring a bit of cash with you for the evening, as most of the vendors inside and outside won't accept card.
The 'Card' Is Different Each Night
There’s a rotating cast of regular CMLL wrestlers who will appear at most of the shows, but it’s not the same matches, show, or cast every night. This is a televised wrestling promotion, with a number of the dedicated local fans turning up each week, so they have ongoing feuds, champions, and storylines.
There are also occassional guest appearances from Mexican legends or North American superstars - with certain incoming wrestlers being far more of a draw than others.
However, you don’t need to know who everyone is or their backstories to get into it: the beauty of wrestling lies in its simplicity and the binary between 'the goodies’ and ‘the baddies’ will become glaringly obvious quite quickly.
The shows generally lasts about three hours, with a variety of matches taking place. On our night at the Friday Espectacular, there was a quick fire royal rumble, then six or seven various tag, trios, and single matches (and at one point a very small man in a blue furry suit being chased around the ring…)
There wasn’t much in terms of the ‘promos’, video packages or ‘skits’ that you’ll see in North American wrestling, and the only critique of our CMLL experience was that some matches were very short, with very sudden endings and fast turnarounds (that might be a plus point for some of you though…)
Top Tip // Before taking your seat inside the arena, try to track down one of the guys with flyers about that night’s matches and wrestlers, whilst the CMLL website also lists the ‘card’ for each event.
Enjoy It (If Only For A Few Hours)
As you’re sensible and have good taste, most of you won’t be wrestling fans.
But, when you’re at the lucha libre in Mexico City, you may be surprised by how invested in it some of the locals are and how beloved several of the wrestlers are amongst them. It isn't a joke for everyone, and those who come weekly care about the characters and their wins/losses.
Some even treat it like it's real.
Perhaps the most passionate person we’ve ever seen was the middle-aged Mexican woman in the front row at the wrestling in Guadalajara several years ago who would not stop viciously berating the bad guys, and eventually got escorted out of the arena!
Of course, the winners are pre-determined and it’s really just choreographed combat, but the magic is forgetting that for a moment.
With a simple dichotomy between the 'good guy’ técnicos and the 'bad guy' rudos, it's easy to know who to root for and who to boo, when you should gasp and when you should cheer.
So leave the irony or the ‘it’s all fake’ at the door, and join in, have some fun, admire the bombast, risk-taking and technical skill of the wrestlers, hurl some insults, boo, cheer and add to the atmosphere, rather than detract from or mock it.
Who knows, you might even begin to understand how Andrew’s dirty little secret came to be….
Mexico City Lucha Libre Tickets & Tours
· Buy your official tickets on the CMLL Ticketmaster page
· Lucha Libre Experience | Small-group tour limited to 15 people, it will also introduce you to the pulque drink in a local cantina - find out more here
· Lucha & Tacos & Beer & Mezcal | Focussed on giving you a great night as well as the wrestling show, the reviews are really excellent for this popular, social option - find out more here
· A Wrestler Tour | This one is led by a former luchador who can share a unique perspective on the world of lucha libre - find out more here
· Lucha Libre Show | Similar to the above, you start with a pulque or a beer before heading to the arena together to watch the action - find out more here.
